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'When I was there we had to sell to buy,' he said ahead of his return to Anfield.

'Now, I think is they have a better squad because when you spend money you bring in better players. So when they sign Fabinho and Naby Keita, yet they keep Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum, the squad is better and that means competition and you always have a strong team on the pitch.'

Benitez says the fact Liverpool are not totally reliant on a player such as Mo Salah proves they have the depth to compete on all fronts.

Benitez faces a different type of battle with Newcastle United as he seeks to beat the drop

'Salah is showing everyone he is among the best (in the world),' he added. 'He has the pace, the vision, the ability, he is clinical in front of of goal.

'But (this year) it is not just him, they have a very good team and a very good squad, you can change players and still have a very good 11. The team is helping Salah to perform every week. Football is about consistency and quality and, at the moment, he has everything.'

Meanwhile, Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles says Virgil van Dijk is the centre-back all others are looking up to right now.

Jurgen Klopp has been backed in transfer market and turned Liverpool into title contenders

'People thought £75m was a high price tag but he has shown he is worth every penny,' said Lascelles.

'Pretty much every centre half will look at him and think he has got it all. He is good on the ball, strong, tall, he is leader. Whoever plays next to him he will make them look good too.

'He is one of the best in the world. I hate talking about other players, but he is.'